ML14176A945
| ML14176A945 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 06/26/2014 |
| From: | Wray J NRC/OE |
| To: | |
| Carpenter R, OE/EB, 415-1330 | |
| References | |
| EA-14-024 EN-14-025 | |
| Download: ML14176A945 (2) | |
Text
June 26, 2014 EN-14-025 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee:
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation EA-14-024 Wolf Creek Generating Station Docket No.: 50-482
Subject:
ISSUANCE OF FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation (NOV) associated with a White Significance Determination Process finding will be issued on or about July 1, 2014, to Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (licensee) as a result of an inspection at Wolf Creek Generating Station. The White finding is an issue of low to moderate safety significance and will require additional inspections. The violation was discovered during a baseline inspection of the emergency preparedness program, which included an observation of the licensee's emergency response organization performance during the November 5, 2013, biennial exercise.
The White finding involved the licensees failure to correctly apply the default noble gas to iodine ratio when the reactor building effluent monitor was in accident mode, which resulted in inaccurate offsite dose calculations. In certain circumstances, it resulted in an overestimation of the iodine and particulates by a factor of 10. This adversely affected the licensees ability to assess the consequences of a radiological release, which could lead to an over-classification of emergencies using dose assessment results. It also had the potential to impact protective action recommendations necessary to protect public health and safety. A NOV is included because of the licensees failure to maintain adequate methods for assessing the potential consequences of a radiological emergency condition in accordance with 10 CFR 50.47(b)(9).
In response to the preliminary determination letter, the licensee attended a Regulatory Conference on April 30, 2014 and presented its observations and perspective on the finding and violation. After reviewing the information developed during the inspection, and the information provided by the licensee, the staff concluded that the finding and violation is appropriately characterized as White. The licensee took immediate compensatory measures to ensure that inaccurate information was not used in determining protective action recommendations.
On February 25, 2014, the licensee completed changes to applicable procedures to correct the inaccurate calculation methodology.
It should be noted that the licensee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement actions. The schedule of issuance and notification is:
Mailing of Final Significance Determination July 1, 2014 Telephone Notification of Licensee July 1, 2014 The State of Kansas will be notified.
CONTACTS: John Wray, OE/EB Nick Hilton, OE (301) 415-1288 (301) 415-2741
2 DISTRIBUTION: EN-14-025, June 26, 2014 OWFN OWFN TWFN Regional Offices Chairman Macfarlane Comm. Svinicki Comm. Apostolakis Comm. Magwood Comm. Ostendorff SECY OCA OPA OIP EDO DEDR DEDMRT OE OGC NRR OI OIG OCFO OIS RES ACRS FSME NRO 3WFN NMSS NSIR OP CENTER RI RII RIII RIV MAIL ADAMS OE Staff DISTRIBUTION:
RZimmerman PHolahan NHilton EN Binder OE R/F ADAMS Accession Number: ML14176A945 OFFICE OE:ES OE:BC NAME RCarpenter JWray DATE 6/25/2014 6/25/2014 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY